Main menu

The Bolt is the first in a crop of EVs that won't suffer from range anxiety even during the longest daily commutes, and may be up for a road trip to a neighboring state without juicing up.

Chevy Bolt makes 200+ miles and $30,000 the new benchmark for EVs

Fresh crop of affordable electric cars promises real improvements

September 16, 2016

Share

Facebook

Tweet

Pinterest

Email

This week's announcement of the long-awaited 2017 Chevrolet Bolt specs come not only before a major auto show -- the Paris motor show opens its doors in a couple of weeks with Opel's Bolt clone on display -- but also as a raft of new EVs are set to make the existing crop of electrics about as relevant as a 2006 Blackberry.

Specifically, the Bolt is one of the first electrics to offer a true anxiety-free commuting range -- 238-plus miles -- and a price just below $30,000 after tax breaks. Until now, the sales leader in the still-sparse electric segment has been the Nissan Leaf with its slightly nail-biting 84-mile EPA range and a price that had to be slashed by $6,400 in 2014 in order to get it to just under the $30,000 mark. Sales of the Leaf had a slow start, though the model quickly became the best-selling EV in the country.

News of the Chevrolet Bolt's 238 miles of electric range will change the calculus for many EV shoppers, especially those considering the outgoing Nissan Leaf or eyeing the vaporwarish Tesla ...

The Bolt, before it even goes on sale, is expected to make 200-plus miles and a starting price below $30,000 the new benchmark for EVs, making them a credible commuter even at a time when it (once again) costs about $30 to gas up a 15-year-old Ford Expedition.

Chevy's new EV already eclipses the Tesla Model 3 with its promised 215-mile range (plus the Bolt is actually being built), and will be the first crop of non-premium EVs that achieve this price/range sweet spot. VW won't not be far behind with rumors of all-new pure electric hatch that may trump the Bolt's range, one of over 20 models that VW promises before the year 2020. The Nissan Leaf, meanwhile, will need a much bigger battery to catch up, but Nissan isn't sitting still. And an updated Ford Focus Electric (yes, there is such a thing) will need to triple its current 76-mile range in order to remain competitive.

Tesla wants to assure you the latest technical upgrades for its semi-autonomous Autopilot driver assist system include a long-planned update and not an emergency patch of any sort. No, ...

Even in a period of retro gas prices, a range war between EVs still matters. Chevy may want to trademark the name "Chevrolet Jolt" as the battle heats up, but for the moment, Bolt has the advantage even if it's not on sale yet.